Professional phone interpretation services
Not every interpretation need comes with advance notice. A patient walks in speaking a language you weren’t expecting. A business call goes to a contact who doesn’t speak English. A government interaction needs a professional interpreter right now, not next week. Professional phone interpretation services exist for exactly these moments, and that’s when speed, simplicity, and availability are the only things that matter.
Multilingual Connections provides over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) and video remote interpreting (VRI) services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Setup is straightforward: one toll-free number, a personalized account code, no minimum charges, and connection to a professional interpreter in under a minute. Whether it’s a planned call or something that came up without warning, we’re there when you need us.
Looking for video or phone interpretation services?
Multilingual Connections’ flexible and cost-effective OPI (over-the-phone interpretation) VRI (video remote interpreting) is available in over 200 languages and accommodates all industries, including healthcare, legal, government, insurance, marketing and general business, as well as ASL.
Our phone interpreters are available around the clock, so using your personalized account, you can call any time, any day, and you’ll be connected to one of our professional telephone interpreters in less than a minute.
Easy set-up and no minimum charges – what can be easier? You’ll receive a toll-free number and code, and you’ll be provided a detailed usage report each month.
How phone interpretation works
Getting started with phone interpretation through Multilingual Connections takes one setup call. After that, the process every time is:
- Call the toll-free number and enter your personalized account code.
- Select the language you need. Connection to a professional interpreter takes under a minute.
- The interpreter bridges the conversation in real time, relaying what each party says to the other.
- The call ends when you’re done. There are no minimum charges, so you pay for the time you use.
At the end of each month, you receive a detailed usage report covering all calls, languages, and durations. This makes it straightforward to track usage across departments, manage costs, and provide documentation if needed.
Industries we support
Phone and video interpretation is used wherever professional language access is needed on demand. The industries and settings we support include healthcare facilities, government agencies, law enforcement, call centers and customer service teams, travel and tourism, general business, research organizations, financial services, and insurance claims operations.
If your organization works with people who speak languages other than English, phone interpretation is the simplest and most immediately accessible way to ensure those interactions are handled professionally, accurately, and without the delay of scheduling an onsite interpreter in advance.
Video remote interpreting (VRI) support
Video remote interpreting adds a visual connection to the phone interpretation model. Where OPI is audio-only, VRI connects parties via video, which makes it particularly useful for American Sign Language interpretation, where visual communication is the language itself, and for any conversation where facial expressions, visual cues, or physical demonstrations support understanding alongside the spoken or signed content.
VRI is available through the same account and toll-free number as our phone interpretation service. If your team handles interactions that sometimes require ASL or benefit from a visual connection, it’s available without any separate setup or contract.
Why choose Multilingual Connections for phone interpretation
- Simple, transparent setup: one toll-free number, a personalized account code, no minimum charges, and a detailed monthly usage report. There’s no enterprise contract required to get started.
- Connected in under a minute: once your account is active, you’re reaching a professional interpreter in under 60 seconds, any time, day or night.
- A broader range of industries than healthcare-only providers: we support research, travel, general business, financial services, and more, not just the healthcare and government verticals that dominate most OPI platforms.
- Part of a full interpretation services offering: if your organization also needs scheduled onsite interpretation or RSI for virtual events, those are available through the same relationship, so your interpretation needs don’t require separate vendors as they grow.
- Multilingual Connections was founded by a linguistic anthropologist, and that foundation means language quality matters in this service the same way it does across everything we do. We’ve served clients including Google, Netflix, and Pew Research since 2005.
Request a quote
It all starts with a first connection. Tell us how our international network of linguists and dedicated project managers can help!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is your interpretation service HIPAA compliant?
Handling protected health information makes a language service provider a HIPAA “business associate,” which requires a signed Business Associate Agreement and proper safeguards. If HIPAA applies to your calls, confirm BAA terms and interpreter training directly during setup, not after.
What are the tech requirements for VRI?
Just a stable internet connection and a camera-enabled device, phone, tablet, or computer. Whether it’s browser-based or app-based depends on your setup. If calling from a clinical or public space, test that room’s connection ahead of time.
How many languages do you support?
75+ languages, plus ASL through video remote interpreting, with interpreters matched to your specific need. For a less common language or dialect, reach out directly since availability is usually confirmed per request.
Do your interpreters have subject matter expertise?
Yes. In addition to general fluency, our interpreters are well-versed in medical, legal, and business terminology so nothing is left to chance. Because our service prioritizes speed, interpreters do not receive advance briefings on your specific case prior to the call. However, for highly specialized or recurring needs, please ask us about arranging interpreter continuity for your account.
Can multiple team members share one account, or does each person need their own code?
Either works. Some teams use one shared code, others prefer individual codes for cleaner usage tracking. Since the monthly report breaks down activity by code, decide this based on whether you need department-level or individual-level visibility.